Gary Numan: That's no fan - that's my wife!
19 May 2002
Gary Numan, 44, is widely regarded as one of Britain's first synth stars, his hit 1979 singles "Cars" and "Are Friends Electric?" still sampled to this day. He retired from the live music scene in 1981 but was back in favour during the Nineties. His most recent album, Pure, was critically acclaimed and Sugababes recently scored a hit with their Numan-sampled "Freak Like Me" single.
We know you've been making a bit of music recently, but seriously, where have you been the last 20-odd years?
It's mainly been spent in the studio helping to make this "overnight" resurgence in my career a reality. I've made about 18 albums in the last 20-odd years.
Your Sugababes hit has made you cool again. Does it annoy you that you're not given any street cred until you hook up with the latest pop bands?
I suppose it depends on what street you're on when it comes to what is cred. Marilyn Manson covered one of my songs several years ago which was cool. In my opinion Nine Inch Nails are the best band in the world and they did one of mine a year or two ago, which was about as cred as I ever need or want to be. The Sugababes record is cool but it was put together without any input from me. I've actually been covered or sampled by about 40 different bands in the last few years from Foo Fighters through to Moloko and Basement Jaxx so I think some cred has been filtering through for a while now.
What do you think of new synth bands like Fischerspooner?
I haven't heard them yet. Although I have a synthesiser history, so to speak, I don't have any extra interest in a band because they're electronic. I just like music and as a rule the darker, heavier and more menacing it is the better. Some electronic music can be a little too plinky plinky beep beep for me. Still, open mind and all that.
Do you think some people don't take you seriously as an artist because your name doesn't sound very rock'n'roll?
Oh absolutely. Although you should have seen the name I wanted to use!
After your internet plea, did your parents get their stolen caravan back?
Sadly no, although they have now replaced it with an identical one. Probably the same one knowing their luck.
What's the weirdest thing a "Numanoid" has ever done in the name of fandom?
One of them, Gemma, married me, which I thought was devotion to fan duty way beyond the norm.
You've worked with some big names in the music industry recently ­ anyone else you're burning to collaborate with?
I don't have a lot of confidence about what I do. I don't think I sing very well so when it comes to working with other people I would never have the front to put myself forward for any collaboration. I actually find these collaboration things a bit daunting. I'm much more comfortable working on my own. I'm off to work with Junkie XL soon but after that it's full focus on my own album. The last one, Pure, got the best reviews I've ever had so the pressure is on to come up with something a bit special.
'Exposure ­ The Best of Gary Numan' is released by Jagged Halo on 27 May
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